Side-bar vehicle



No Model.)

L. A. MELBURN.

SIDE BAR VEHICLE. No. 250,555. Patented D55. 6,1881.

m mmnm INVENTOR .iofbz u ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT F icE,

LAFAYETTE A. MELBURN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SIDE-BAR VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,565, dated December6, 1881.

Application filed August 27, 1861. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE A. MEL- BURN, of Denver, in the county ofArapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Side-Bar Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that thefollowingisa full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists in a certain improvement in the class of side-barvehicles, more particularly in buggies, which are constructed upon whatis commonly termed the Brewster pattern. The springs that support thebodies of such buggies require to be made very stifi', in ordertohavetherequisitestrength, and, being also short, they lack that degreeof elasticity necessary to render the vehicle comfortable to theoccupant when passing over ordinary roads. In attempts heretofore madeto remedy this defect various so-called improvements have been made inthe form and arrangement of the springs, but without the desiredsuccess, since the result has been a noticeable, if not striking,inelegance of appearance, and considerable addition to the cost andcomplication of structure of the buggy, besides lessened efficiency inuse.

I have devised an improvement in the form and arrangement of the springswhich overcomes the abovc-stated defect of the Brewster without thedisadvantages of the mentioned improvements thereon.

I will proceed to describe my invention by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of a side-bar buggy providedwith springs constructed and arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detailcross-section, showing the end of a spring and the means for attachingit to a side bar. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of the shackle-link.

The body A ofthe buggy is supported by the side bars, B B, which are, inturn, supported by springs O O, secured to the front head-block, a, andrear axle, I), in the usual way. The body A rests on and is bolted tothe convex middle portion of springs D D, as

in the Brewster and various other well-known varieties of side-barbuggies.

Myimprovement consists in extending the ends of said springs, curvingthem reverscly-that is to say, first upward, then backward and downward,and next upward again, as shown in the drawings-the eyes 0 to rereceivethe shackle-links being formed on such upturned extremities.

It will be perceived that by such construction of the springs I obtain adegree of elasticity corresponding to and necessarily resulting fromtheir increased length and peculiar curve. This advantage is of greatimportance, since it relieves the bodyA of the vehicle of the slight yetcontinuous and annoying jars or concussions incident to use, besidesadding to the durability and safety of the vehicle. It removes, in fact,the chief objection to the Brewster buggy, and renders it comfortableand pleasant for the occupant.

It will be further observed that the bent portions d of the springs,being below the bottom of the body'A, are thus not only out of the way,so that they otl'er no obstruction to getting into or out of the buggy,but, what is of even greater importance, do not conceal from view anyportion of the side of the body, so that the bug; has the same elegantand attractive appearance as the ordinary Brewster.

Another advantage is secured by the peculiar construction or curves ofthe ends of the springs, since, as will be seen in Fig. 3, the upwardbend which terminates in the eye 0 not only adapts them for connectionwith the shackle-links E, but affords the requisite space for the nut onthe outer leg of the clip.

I do not claim, broadly, buggy-springs having their ends curvedreversely but What I do claim is-- 1. The combination, with thebuggy-body same vertical plane with them, as shown and the extremitiesof the same bent upward and described. provided with an eye, 0 as andfor the pur- 2. The combination, with the buggy-body pose specified. A,side bars, B B, shackles, and springs O U L. A. MELBURN. 5 attached tothe front and rear portions of the Witnesses:

running-gear, of the cross-springs D D, hav- SOLON O. KEMON, ing theirend portions curved reversely and Arms W. HART.

